TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TAKES KEYSTONE DISPUTE TO SUPREME COURT

GRAND ISLAND - The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive a permit program that would allow the disputed Keystone XL pipeline and other new oil and gas pipelines to cross waterways with little review.

Earlier this year, a Montana judge suspended the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ permit program when environmental groups seeking to block construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline argued the permit process allows companies to skirt responsibility for damage done to water bodies. Last month, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied an emergency request to block Morris' ruling filed by the U.S. government, states and industry groups.

On Monday, U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco asked the Supreme Court to do what the 9th Circuit court wouldn't: block Morris' ruling and let the permit program operate again while the lawsuit plays out in court.

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AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY? IF SO, WHAT IS THE SHAPE? V, W, OR A SWOOSH?

OMAHA - The May U.S. jobs report indicated the nation's economy added 2.5 million jobs, the highest monthly addition on record. This news emboldened the optimists who envisioned a V-shaped recovery, and dampened the pessimists who foresaw a W-shaped economic rebound. Other recent economic indicators support an economic recovery somewhere between the extremes, a Nike Swoosh, which would be a sharp downturn followed by a slow recovery.

Record federal deficit spending via the CARES Act, and the Federal Reserve's support for ultra-low short and long-term interest rates, are punishing savers and rewarding spenders. U.S. equity markets are pricing in an economic revival with expanding business profits indicative of a "V."

Contrary to most recessions, this one was led by the consumer and there is little evidence from consumer spending data of a return to pre-Covid spending levels. State and local regulations have limited most businesses in this industry to approximately 50% of their pre-Covid-19 capacity. This may indicate a Nike swoosh shaped recovery.

Rising U.S. Covid-19 infection and death rates would put a dagger in the heart of any economic rebound. Growth based on federal government deficit spending and Federal Reserve's ultra-low interest rates is not sustainable. The U.S. and global consumers must return to work and spending. State economic lockdowns will guarantee a return to a recession as the economy reaches the top of the V

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U.S. HOUSING SUPPLY HURT BY COVID-19

OMAHA - Covid-19 is hurting the U.S. housing supply. The number of privately-owned housing units authorized by new building permits for the month of April fell to just over 1 million, a decline of 21% from 1.3 million, the revised number for March, and is 19.2% lower than the number of permits for the same month last year

Every U.S. metropolitan area's April unemployment rate increased from March's reading.

U.S. exports and imports both posted their largest monthly decreases on record amid coronavirus-related shutdowns around the world. Imports fell 13.7% in April from March, and exports dropped 20.5%, the largest declines since record-keeping began in 1992.

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PUSH FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF STILL ALIVE IN NEBRASKA, DESPITE ESTIMATED LOSS OF STATE REVENUE

LINCOLN - The push for property tax relief still has a heartbeat, despite estimates delivered Tuesday that Nebraska will see a quarter-billion-dollar loss in state tax revenue from federal tax changes enacted because of the coronavirus.

The leader of the push, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, said that nothing else will be accomplished in the remaining 17 days of the 2020 state legislative session unless a property tax bill is passed.

The senator, who chairs the tax policy-setting Revenue Committee, spoke after state revenue officials delivered some sobering news: Nebraska can expect to see a loss of $250 million in state tax revenue over the next three years because of federal tax changes instituted as part of the CARES Act, enacted by Congress to provide relief from the economic gut punch delivered by the pandemic. That includes about a $126 million loss in the next fiscal year.

Linehan said she thinks she has a path to get a property tax relief bill passed this year, but acknowledged, “I haven’t convinced enough people yet.”

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JUDGE DELIVERS BLOW TO CONTROVIERSIAL SAND HILLS TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

OMAHA - A federal judge has delivered a blow to a controversial project to extend a high-voltage, electrical transmission line through Nebraska's Sand Hills. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge William Martinez revoked a federal permit that would have allowed the Nebraska Public Power District to kill or severely disturb the endangered American burying beetle as a consequence of building its R-Line project. The 225-mile, 345-kilovolt transmission line would extend from near Sutherland, northward to Thedford, and then eastward to near Clearwater.

Tom Kent, the chief executive officer of NPPD, said Thursday morning that the ruling will delay but not stop the project. "The project is still very important to the people of Nebraska and critical to improve the reliability of the electrical system," Kent said.

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BLENDING IN

WASHINGTON - EPA will require an extra 500 million gallons of biofuel blending over the next two years under the Renewable Fuel Standard in an effort to meet the requirements of a 2017 court order , two biofuel industry sources told POLITICO. In 2017, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals found that EPA had improperly used waivers to lower blending requirements for years 2014 through 2016, and it told the agency to require 500 million gallons in future rules to compensate biofuel producers.

The agency would add the extra gallons over two years, though the sources weren't sure whether the extra gallons would be part of the annual blending requirements or come as part of supplemental rules. The move would be a boon for biofuel producers who have been struggling because of the drop in fuel demand during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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KERREY, HEINEMAN URGE STATE SEN. JULIE SLAMA TO APOLOGIZE FOR ‘RACIST CAMPAIGNING.’

LINCOLN - Former Democratic Gov. Bob Kerrey and former Republican Gov. Dave Heineman have urged State Sen. Julie Slama of Peru to apologize for what they described as “racist, negative campaigning” directed at her legislative opponent, Janet Palmtag of Syracuse.

“Without such an apology and condemnation of racist attacks in the strongest terms, you risk becoming the Steve King of Nebraska,” they wrote Slama.

The condemnation, directed at the senator who was appointed to the Legislature by Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts in 2019, was based on Slama campaign flyers paid for by the Nebraska Republican Party. The flyers depicted photos of Palmtag and Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha along with text that stated: “Janet Palmtag sides with Lincoln liberals, atheists and radical extremists.”

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RICKETTS TELLS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THEY WON’T GET FEDERAL COVID-19 MONEY IF THEY REQUIRE MASKS

LINCOLN – Governor Ricketts told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks. “The governor encourages people to wear a mask,” according to his spokesman Taylor Gage, “but does not believe that failure to wear a mask should be the basis for denying taxpayers’ services.”

The no-mask mandate has been poorly received in some corners of the state, with officials criticizing the loss of local control. It also runs counter to the advice of public health officials, who have stressed the importance of wearing masks.

With millions of dollars at stake, local officials said they had little choice but to comply with the governor’s order. Otherwise, they’d have to find local options for replacing the federal money, such as higher property taxes.

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BASEBALL PLAYERS FROM LINCOLN SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

LINCOLN - Multiple members of the Pinnacle Bank American Legion baseball team have tested positive for COVID-19, Lincoln Public Schools confirmed Wednesday. Following advice from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, all players and coaches associated with the team will quarantine.

Pinnacle Bank, which is made up of players from Lincoln Southwest High School, was scheduled to play its first game Thursday against Pittsburg (Kansas) in Omaha. The team will not be able to start its season until June 30. That stretch includes games against Union Bank (Lincoln Pius X), Fremont, and the Mike Peterson/Coach K Tournament.

According to LPS, contact tracing shows that none of the players attended weightlifting or condition sessions at Southwest, which was one of seven city high schools to open their weight rooms this week.

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BRYAN HEALTH OFFERS DYING COVID-19 PATIENTS COMPASSIONATE VISITS

LINCOLN - Bryan Health will offer a one-time opportunity for two visitors to see COVID-19 patients who are near death, hospital system officials announced Wednesday.

The two visitors will wear full protective gear to minimize their risk of exposure to the coronavirus and have up to one hour with the patient, Bryan Health's Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Vail said. During the pandemic, patients with COVID-19 or suspected to have the viral disease have not been allowed visitors, according to Bryan Health.

The new measure took effect last Friday, and these visits will be coordinated through a patient's primary doctor, she said.

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NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS DELIVER PPE

SCOTTSBLUFF - Two members of the Nebraska National Guard, Sgt. Dalton Riedel and Spec. Logan Dowse, made a stop in Scottsbluff on Wednesday afternoon with a mission of restocking local supplies of personal protective equipment, or PPE.

Since March, the National Guard has spent significant time in the Panhandle assisting with COVID-19 testing, as well as dropping off PPE at the Panhandle Public Health District.

The pallets containing items such as gloves and sanitary wipes will be broken down and the PPE will distribute to those who request it through PPHD.

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RE-UPPING CONNECT FOR HEALTH

WASHINGTON - Twenty-nine senators including Commerce Chair Roger Wicker, Mark Warner, Kyrsten Sinema, Lisa Murkowski, Lindsey Graham, and Amy Klobuchar have co-signed a letter led by Brian Schatz urging Senate leaders to permanently implement the pandemic policies that have allowed for an unprecedented uptick in virtual visits.

Some of those temporary policies — including allowing HHS Secretary Alex Azar to waive telehealth restrictions during the Covid-19 emergency — were adopted from the CONNECT for Health Act, S. 2741, a sweeping bill that telehealth proponents have been pushing for years.

Making telehealth access permanent would "assure patients that their care will not be interrupted when the pandemic ends," the letter reads. It could also signal to health care providers that "costs to prepare for and use telehealth would be a sound long-term investment."

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TESTING’S BIG TEST

WASHINGTON - The U.S is now conducting more than 3 million coronavirus tests a week, a big improvement over the shortages that worsened the pandemic this spring. But the country risks another dangerous testing deficit this fall when schools and businesses try to reopen. Safely reopening schools and businesses could require up to 30 million tests per week, rather than the current 3 million, experts say. And if surging coronaviruses cases collide with flu season, the demand could be even higher.

The U.S. has enough testing capacity. The country will be able to test at least 40 million to 50 million people per month by September. But it’s not enough to meet the likely demand, given that the virus is still spreading in much of the country, according to a number of public health experts. These experts aren’t just worried about the number of tests that labs can process. They are concerned about the logistical challenges of testing so many people, and the lag in setting up adequate contact tracing to track who may have been exposed.

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RICKETTS PRAISES TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP AT WHITE HOUSE ROUNDTABLE ON REOPENING ECONOMY

WASHINGTON- Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts was emphatic in his praise of President Donald Trump’s help in managing the COVID-19 pandemic during a visit Thursday to the White House.

Ricketts told Trump that the president’s March 17 advisory to avoid public gatherings of more than 10 people “bought us time” to ramp up COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and other steps to deal with the pandemic. Ricketts and Tony Goins, the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, were part of a roundtable discussion at the White House about how states were working to reopen the economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus outbreak. Melissa Hegarty of Omaha, the co-owner of four Nothing Bundt Cakes outlets, also attended as a guest of Ricketts. 

Trump’s reelection campaign provided reporters with a video of a discussion during the roundtable. Much of the tape showed Trump appointees praising the president for his leadership. 

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UNL TO REQUIRE MASKS IN ALL CAMPUS BUILDINGS - AND SOME OUTDOOR SPACES - THIS FALL

LINCOLN- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus will look a lot different for the fall 2020 semester. New posters will explain the best practices for public hygiene, and large, free-standing hand-sanitizing stations will be placed in high-traffic areas.

Classes and dining halls will be reconfigured to allow students and employees enough space to observe the 6-feet social distancing guidelines. And students, employees and visitors will be required to cover their faces inside campus buildings, as well as some outdoor spaces, to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

The policy, which went into effect Thursday, was established by UNL's "Forward to Fall" committee following six weeks of deliberation and study of public health guidelines and best practices from across the country.

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STOTHERT SAYS SHE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19 AFTER PROTESTER SPAT ON HER

OMAHA - Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert says she tested negative for COVID-19 after protesters spat on her outside City Hall this month. When asked if the spitting was intentional, Stothert said, “I believe so.” During a press conference Monday, the mayor said she got spit on her while talking to protesters. She was tested on June 8.

Stothert said her goal when the spitting incident occurred was “to go out and talk to (protesters).”

“I didn’t say a word about (the spit) to tell you the truth,” Stothert said. “Because my intention was going out there to listen and to answer questions. And the last thing I wanted to do was to leave as they became angrier and angrier.”

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EDITORIAL: LISTEN TO NEBRASKA’S EXPERT DOCTORS: WEAR A MASK

OMAHA - Nebraska is poised to further ease restrictions and open up daily life. What’s one of the main ways that important effort could be undermined? If a large number of Nebraskans fail to wear masks when they are in close proximity to others.

Public health officials have been clear from the start about the protective value of masks. Water droplets are one of the main ways the coronavirus spreads. Masks help stop the droplet dispersal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week issued a new set of health guidance about the importance of mask wearing.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican, has rightly termed that a “senseless dividing line.” As he said in a press conference last month, if someone is wearing a mask, they “might be doing it because they’ve got a 5-year-old child who’s been going through cancer treatments. They might have vulnerable adults in their life, who currently have COVID and they’re fighting.”

We’ve seen since March how difficult life is in the midst of a full-blown virus threat. Masks are a key way we can move forward, for everyone’s sake.

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EDITORIAL: PACKING PLANTS MUST STEP UP ANTI-VIRUS STEPS, UNMC SURVEY SHOWS

OMAHA - Experience since March has dramatically shown that meatpacking plants are especially vulnerable to becoming COVID-19 hot spots. Minimizing exposure risks at packing plants is a key step for any U.S. state to contain its virus threat. A new survey of packing plant workers by the University of Nebraska Medical Center shows that plants in Nebraska have made progress, but they still must address remaining shortcomings: ensuring social distancing at work, and fulfilling commitments to provide paid time off.

Of the 600 workers surveyed by UNMC, only a minority — 39% — said their plants had spaced out workers on the production line and in common areas such as cafeterias and locker rooms. Social distancing is necessary to bolster the protection offered by steps the plants have taken: providing masks, checking workers’ temperatures and posting COVID-19 info, said Athena Ramos, an assistant professor at UNMC who works at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities and crafted the survey.

The more that packing companies step up their actions to contain the virus threat, the better for those businesses, their communities and Nebraska as a whole. This is no time to let up in the fight against the virus.

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Midlands Voices: Universal mask wearing is truly necessary during this health crisis

OMAHA- The writers, Dr's James Lawler, Daniel Johnson, and Sara Bares are all M.D.s at Nebraska Medicine and faculty members at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. 

"As infectious disease and critical care specialists at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, we bear firsthand witness to the human toll of COVID-19 on a daily basis. While we are happy to see Nebraskans getting back to work and slowly restoring normalcy to our lives, we also sense a growing gap between the public’s perception that the worst of the pandemic is behind us and the reality that we continue to teeter on the precipice of disaster.

How the pandemic plays out in Nebraska largely depends on the collective result of how each of us acts individually. Just as the old Smokey Bear advertisements focused on personal responsibility to prevent forest fires, the same message is relevant here: Only YOU can prevent COVID-19.

Your safety, and the safety of your family and your neighbors, rest upon the actions you take in the coming weeks and months. So, what can you do?

You can start by wearing a mask..."

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RICKETTS TO FURTHER EASE CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS ON BARS, RESTAURANTS, GATHERINGS

LINCOLN – As of June 22nd, in 89 counties, bars and restaurants can serve customers at 100% of their rated occupancy, with some restrictions remaining. Child care centers can step up the number of children allowed per room.Indoor gatherings, including arenas, can step up to 50% of their occupancy. Outdoor gatherings, including stadiums, can go to 75% occupancy. 

In the four other counties — Hall, Hamilton, Merrick, and Dakota — the restrictions will be relaxed to the level where the other counties are now.

Ricketts said the state may see an increase in coronavirus cases because of the recent Black Lives Matter protests and because of increased testing for the virus, but he expressed confidence that Nebraska has the capacity to manage the disease. As of Monday evening, the state reported 16,851 positive tests for COVID-19 and 220 deaths. Statewide, 43% of hospital beds are available for patients, with 53% of ICU beds open and 76% of the state’s ventilators available.

“We probably have the fewest hospitalizations since the first week in May,” Ricketts said.

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